BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. & F. N. SPON, 16, BUCKLERSBURY, LONDON. IRON BRIDGES. A Complete Treatise on Cast and Wrought Iron Bridge Construction, including Iron Foundations, in three parts, theoretical, practical, and descriptive, by William Humber, Associate Institute Civil Engineers, and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 2 vols. imperial 4to, containing 80 double plates and 200 pages of text, an entirely new work, 67. 16s. 6d. IRON BRIDGES. A Practical Treatise on Cast and Wrought Iron Bridges and Girders as applied to Railway Structures and to Buildings generally, with numerous examples drawn to a large scale, selected from the Public Works of the most eminent Engineers, with 58 full-page plates, by William Humber, Associate Institute Civil Engineers, and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, imperial 4to, half bound in morocco, 3l. 10s. IRON MANUFACTURE.— The Iron Manufacture of Great Britain theoretically and practically considered, including descriptive details of the Ores, Fuels, and Fluxes employod, the preliminary operation of Calcination, the Blast, Refining and Puddling Furnaces, Engines and Machinery, and the various processes in Union, &c., by William Truran, C.E., formerly Engineer at the Dowlais Iron Works, under the late Sir John Guest, Bart., subsequently at the Hirwain and Forest Works under Mr. Crawshay, second edition, revised from the manuscript of the late Mr. Truran by J. Arthur Phillips, author of "A Manual of Metallurgy," "Records of Mining," &c., and W. H. Dorman, C.E., royal 4to, cloth, illustrated by 84 plates of Furnaces and Machinery, 37. 10s. JONATHAN HULLS. A description and draught of a new invented Machine for carrying Vessels or Ships out of or into any Harbour, Port or River, against Wind and Tide, or in a calm, by Jonathan Hulls, 1737, reprint in fac-simile, 12mo, half morocco, reduced to 2s. MECHANICAL DRAWING. An elementary Treatise on Orthographic Projection, being a new method of teaching the Science of Mechanical and Engineering Drawing, intended for the instruction of Engineers, Architects, Builders, Smiths, Masons, and Bricklayers, and for the use of Schools, with numerous illustrations on wood and steel, by William Binns, Associate Institute Civil Engineers, Master of the Mechanical Drawing Class at the Department of Science and Art, and at the School of Mines, late Professor of Applied Mechanics at the College for Civil Engineers, &c., second edition. 8vo, cloth, 9s. MODERN ENGINEERING. A Record of the progress of Modern Engineering, comprising Civil, Mechanical, Marine, Hydraulic, Railway, Bridge, and other Engineering Works, with Essays and Reviews, edited by W. Humber, Associate Institute Civil Engineers, and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, published monthly, price to subscribers, payable in advance, 21. 2s. Each part contains 3 large plates and 4 pages of text. Each year will form a complete volume. MINING. Records of Mining and Metallurgy, or Facts and Memoranda for the use of the Mine Agent and Smelter, by J. Arthur Phillips and John Darlington, in crown 8vo, cloth, illustrated by wood engravings by F. Delamotte, reduced to 4s., in boards 3s. OBLIQUE BRIDGES. A practical Treatise on the Construction of Oblique Bridges with spiral and with equilibrated courses, with 12 plates, containing 100 figures, by Francis Bashworth, M.A., Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, 8vo, cloth, 6s. STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS.— By Zerah Colburn, of New York, 8vo, sewed, 1s. 3A 8715 6.8. AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF HEAT, AND INTO ITS MODE OF ACTION IN THE E & F. N. SPON, 16, BUCKLERSBURY. 1863: [The Right of Translation is reserved.] PREFACE. IN the preparation of a practical treatise upon the Locomotive Engine, the Author has had occasion to introduce a short chapter upon the action of Heat in the generation of steam. The prevalent hypotheses respecting the nature and precise mode of action of Heat appeared unsatisfactory; while the reasoning, indispensable to the proper statement of new views, was found likely to occupy a space far exceeding the limits which could be properly allotted to such a subject in a work intended only for the Mechanical Engineer. It was deemed best, therefore, to prepare a separate essay, the conclusions of which could be condensed within a small compass in the larger work, and to which essay those who might wish to pursue the subject could be referred. Hence the appearance of the following pages. But for the constant pressure of professional duties the Author would have extended his reasoning much further, and have devoted more time to the consideration of the terms best fitted to convey his meaning. The difficulties presented under every aspect of a question so vast as that of the nature of Heat may, possibly, procure for him some indulgence for the many deficiencies, of which, as existing in the following pages, none can be more deeply sensible than himself. 3, Upper Bedford-place, Russell-square, |